Greek Profile: Award winning brothers

The men of Sigma Chi are looking to responsibly change the face of fraternities by combining social, academic and community activities.

"We do so much more than party and drink, we have real concerns for brotherhood and community service," said Dave Murillo, Sigma Chi's president. "Sigma Chi is breaking the mold because they are simply respectable men."

Sigma Chi beat out all CSUS organizations during the 1996/1997 school year for the CSUS Outstanding Community Service award.

Sigma Chi, which was chartered at CSUS in 1985, is now one of the largest houses on campus with 50 active members and 30 pledges.

"We have brothers ranging from current ASI president, Gary Davis, to football and hockey players, to brothers that are really involved with the community," said Domingo de Santos, the fraternity's webmaster and Derby Days chair.

The brothers are very proud of their national philanthropy with the Children's Miracle Network, through the UC Davis Medical Center.

The fraternity's biggest fundraiser for the CMN -- Derby Days -- was held last week. The event consisted of sorority competitions that were arranged by Sigma Chi. The sororities paid a fee to participate in the event, which kicked off Tuesday evening with a sunset serenade. It was followed by three days of sorority competitions and fundraising that included a coin drive, a derby chase and an Olympic Day.

Festivities ended Friday evening with a lip syncing contest and party at the Beverly Garland hotel.

Despite the fun and games, the brothers take Derby Days very seriously.

The estimated $3000 raised during the past week will go to the CMN. Murillo said it is very fulfilling to know exactly where the funds are going.

During the spring semester the fraternity will continue participating in different philanthropies. They will hold a children's Easter egg hunt, to raise money for the ASI Children's Center.

Sigma Chi will also continue Safe Rides, a program the fraternity helped start in 1985, according to Murillo. The program, which is sponsored by ASI, was designed to provide free, safe and confidential rides home to CSUS students, staff and faculty. It operates Thursday through Saturday nights.

There are 227 active Sigma Chi chapters across the United States and Canada.

The fraternities motto "friendship, justice and learning is best shared with guys of different temperaments, talents and convictions," said Chris Soliz, a Sigma Chi brother. "We are a group of diverse guys that didn't have to be a certain way to join. We are basically known as the gentlemen's fraternity around campus."

For more information on Sigma Chi visit their Web site at www.csus.edu/org/sigmachi/.